Chapter III: Part 3

Text size

"Accept, Sir and Brother, from our hands this small token of the
veneration of men who consider it as the greatest boast of their
Society, that a WASHINGTON openly avows himself a member of it, and
thinks it worthy of his approbation. With it accept also our
warmest congratulations in the name of the body which we represent,
on your reappointment to that elevated station in which you
formerly wrought the salvation of your country; and on your
restoration to the inestimable blessing of health which, that the
Almighty disposer of events may continue to accord to you
uninterruptedly, is the most earnest prayer of your most
respectfully affectionate Brethren and most humble servants.

"Signed, WM. BELTON, R.. W..G..M..
"Peter Little, Grand Secretary,
"Baltimore, November 5th, 1798."

=FAC-SIMILE (REDUCED) OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO THE GRAND LODGE OF MARYLAND.--ELKTON, MD., NOV. 8, 1798.=

To this address WASHINGTON sent a reply, the original draft of which is in the Library of Congress, written upon two pages of a letter sheet, and differs somewhat from the final copy sent to the Grand Lodge from Elkton, where WASHINGTON spent the next day. It will be recalled that but two weeks had elapsed since he wrote his last letter to Dominie Snyder of Fredericktown, and this fact was evidently in his mind when he wrote this letter to the Maryland Brethren.

Upon second thought he eliminated the lines bearing upon the insinuations in Snyder's letter. Following is a copy of the letter as originally written, viz.:

"TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE
"MASONS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

"_Gentlemen & Brothers_,

"Your obliging & affectionate
"letter, together with a copy of the Constitutions of
"Masonry has been put into my hands by
"your Grand Master; for which I pray you to
"accept my best thanks.--

"So far as I am
"acquainted with the principles & Doctrines of
"Free Masonry, I conceive it to be founded
"in benevolence and to be exercised only
"for the good of mankind. _If it has been a
"Cloak to promote improper or nefarious
"objects, it is a melancholly proof that
"in unworthy hands, the best institutions
"may be made use of to promote the worst
"designs._--

"While I offer my grateful
"acknowledgements for your congratulations on my
"late appointments, and for the favorable sentiments
"you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit
"me to observe, that at this important &
"critical moment, when repeated and
"high indignities have been offered to this
"government your country and the rights & property
"of our Citizens plundered without a prospect of
"redress, I conceive it to be the _indispensable_
"duty of every American, let his situation & cir
"cumstances in life be what they may, to come
"forward in support of the government of his country
"and to give all the aid in his power toward
"maintaining that independence which we have
"so dearly purchased; and under this impression,
"I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal
"considerations and accept my appointment.

"I pray you to be assured that I ap-
"preciate, with sincerity your kind wishes for
"my health & happiness.

"I am Gentln & brothers
"very respectfully
"Yr most obt servt.

"Go. Washington"

Before this letter was sent, the five words on the tenth line and the whole of next five lines were eliminated; there was also a slight change made in the last paragraph on the second page.

Following is a copy of the letter as received by the Grand Lodge of Maryland. The original letter was in the possession of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, as late as 1833, but it has since disappeared.[63]

"TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE MASONS FOR THE STATE OF
MARYLAND.

"_Gentlemen and Brothers:_

"Your obliging and affectionate letter, together with a copy of the
Constitution of Masonry, has been put into my hands by your Grand
Master, for which I pray you to accept my best thanks. So far as I
am acquainted with the principles and doctrines of Freemasonry, I
conceive them to be founded on benevolence, and to be exercised for
the good of mankind; I cannot, therefore, upon this ground
withdraw my approbation from it.

"While I offer my grateful acknowledgements for your
congratulations on my late appointment, and for the favorable
sentiments you are pleased to express of my conduct, permit me to
observe, that, at this important and critical moment, when high and
repeated indignities have been offered to the Government of our
country, and when the property of our citizens is plundered without
a prospect of redress, I conceive it to be the indispensable duty
of every American, let his station and circumstances in life be
what they may, to come forward in support of the Government of his
choice and to give all the aid in his power towards maintaining
that independence which we have so dearly purchased; and under this
impression, I did not hesitate to lay aside all personal
considerations and accept my appointment. I pray you to be assured
that I receive with gratitude your kind wishes for my health and
happiness and reciprocate them with sincerity.

"I am, Gentlemen and Brothers,
"Very Respectfully,
"Your most Ob't Servant,

"Go. Washington"

"Elkton, November 8th, 1798."

=GEORGE WASHINGTON

BY CHARLES BALTHAZAR FEVERET DE SAINT MEMIN.

THE LAST PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON FROM LIFE, TAKEN IN PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER, 1798.=

Footnotes:

[62] Cf. "Freemasonry in Maryland," by Edw. J. Schultz, Baltimore, 1884, Vol. I, pp. 265-266.

[63] _Ibid._, p. 266.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH G. W. SNYDER, 1798.

As to the correspondence with one G. W. Snyder (Schneider), who represented himself as a preacher of the Reformed Church of Fredericktown, Maryland, our late Brother James M. Lamberton, in his address before the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at the celebration of the "Sesqui-centennial Aniversary of the initiation of Brother GEORGE WASHINGTON into the Fraternity of Freemasons," held in the Masonic Temple, in the City of Philadelphia on Wednesday, November the fifth, A. D. 1902, states:[64]

"It is well known that during the French Revolution religion was
dethroned, and reason installed in the place of Deity. The
spreading of such doctrines was by many ascribed to the
'Illuminati,' who were supposed to be Masons. During this period
clubs like the Jacobin Clubs in France were formed in this
country, and the spread of these doctrines was greatly feared,
especially by the clergy, and in 1798 one of them, one G. W.
Snyder, of Fredericktown, Maryland, wrote to Washington sending at
the same time a book entitled 'Proofs of a Conspiracy,' etc., by
John Robison,[65] the conspiracy being 'to overturn all government
and all religion'."[66]

This letter, sent to WASHINGTON at Mount Vernon covered no less than six pages; following is a verbatim copy of the original now in the Library of Congress.

"TO HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE WASHINGTON.

"Your Excellency's | very humble and |
"devoted Servant,
"G. W. SNYDER.

"Fredericktown, (Maryland) Aug. 22, 1798.
"His Excellency General George Washington."

=FAC-SIMILE OF FIRST PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WASHINGTON, AUGUST 22, 1798.=

=FAC-SIMILE OF FOURTH PAGE OF LETTER FROM G. W. SNYDER TO WASHINGTON, AUGUST 22, 1798.=

=FAC-SIMILE OF PRESS COPY OF WASHINGTON'S ANSWER TO REV. G. W. SNYDER.--SEPTEMBER 25, 1798.=

This man Snyder (Schneider) was an agitator and thoroughly irresponsible person, having no ecclesiastical connection with any organized Church Body.

In the year 1787, Schneider came from Albany, New York, to Frederick, ostensibly to collect money to build a Church. He was kindly received and permitted to preach in the Reformed Congregation, where he soon fomented discord and trouble.

Schneider was soon driven out of Frederick Town, but returned again in 1794, when he renewed the trouble in the Church, which ended in a schism. The matter finally got into the Civil Court, and on February 15, 1800 the case was decided against him, which ended his activity in Frederick Town; soon after which he left for parts unknown.[67]

Snyder, who was not a native of this country, evidently labored under the impression that WASHINGTON was a Grand Master General, who presided over all of the English (or Symbolic) Masonic Lodges in the United States. Snyder evidently used the term "English" Lodges, to distinguish them from the Masonic bodies working in the so-called higher (Scotch) degrees, as are now known as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

How important WASHINGTON considered this correspondence is shown by his precaution in taking a press copy of both of his letters to Snyder, who he was led to believe was the regular pastor of the German Reformed Congregation at Fredericktown. These are now in the Library of Congress. It will be noted that in all of his other Masonic correspondence, copies were made in his regular letter books by his clerks, of both address and reply. Brother WASHINGTON evidently surmised that this letter from Snyder was nothing more or less than a scheme to entrap him. It was not until a month had elapsed, and then only after due consideration, that the following reply was sent to Fredericktown, viz.:

"MOUNT VERNON, 25th Sept. 1798.

"_Sir_,

"Many apologies are
"due to you, for my not acknowledging
"the receipt of your obliging favour of
for
"the 22d ult, and ^ not thanking you, at
"an earlier period for the Book you
"had the goodness to send me.

"I have heard much of the ne-
"farious & dangerous plan, & doctrines
"of the Illuminati, but never saw the
"Book until you were pleased to send
"it to me. The same causes which
"have prevented my acknowledging the
"receipt of your letter, have prevented
"my reading the Book, hitherto, name-
"ly, the multiplicity of matters which
me
"pressed upon before, & the debilitated
"state in which I was left after a se
"vere fever had been removed, and
"which allows me to add little more now,
"than thanks for your kind wishes and
"favourable sentiments, except to cor-
"rect an error you have run into, of my
"presiding over the English Lodges in
"this Country. The fact is, I preside over
"none, nor have I been in one, more than
thirty
"once or twice, within the last years.

"I believe notwithstanding, that
"none of the Lodges in this Country are
"contaminated with the principles as-
"cribed to the society of the Illuminati."

"With respect
"I am, Sir,
"Your Obedt Hble Servt

"Go. Washington"

"The Revd Mr Snyder.
Endorsed
to
"The Revd Mr. Snyder.
"25th Sep. 1798."

=FAC-SIMILE OF PRESS COPY OF WASHINGTON'S SECOND LETTER TO REV. G. W. SNYDER.--OCTOBER 24, 1798.=

In this letter WASHINGTON was correct in stating that he had not presided over the "English Lodges in this Country," undoubtedly meaning as Grand Master General.

Where WASHINGTON says "_The fact is I preside over none_," he meant that he did not then preside over any individual lodge, as he at that time was a Past Master of Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, of Virginia.[68]

Where he says "_Nor have I been in one_, [meaning an individual lodge] _more than once or twice within the last thirty years_," he obviously had in view his occasional visits to the various lodges during that period, and that he could not, on account of his official duties and other conditions, attend any lodge regularly.

As a matter of record, WASHINGTON was a member of Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, of Pennsylvania,[69] and attended some of its meetings at Alexandria in 1783 and 1784, as is shown by the Minutes of the Lodge, and the records here presented.[70] Further, that when the Brethren of Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, changed their allegiance from Pennsylvania to Virginia, General WASHINGTON was especially named in the warrant, after his consent having been first obtained,[71] and thereby became the Warrant Master of Lodge No. 22, under the Virginia jurisdiction, April 28, 1788, serving as such until December 20 following, when, as the minutes of that date show,[72] he was unanimously elected to succeed himself for the full term, serving in all about twenty months.

The records further show that, in 1778, WASHINGTON occupied the chief position in the procession at the celebration of St. John the Evangelist by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1778, in which more than three hundred Brethren joined.[73]

He also occupied the same position when he laid the corner stone of the present capitol at Washington, September 18, 1793, clothed with the Masonic Apron presented by Lafayette, which is now in the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Upon both of these occasions, WASHINGTON made a public profession of his membership in the Masonic Fraternity.

Records show that WASHINGTON was present at the meeting of American Union Lodge (a Military Lodge), at Morristown, N. J., December 27, 1779;[74] at American Union Lodge at Nelson's point on the Hudson June 24, 1782;[75] at King Solomon's Lodge of Poughkeepsie, December 27, 1782, and occasionally at Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, in 1783-1784, and the Virginia Lodge, No. 22, between the years 1788 and 1797.[76]

WASHINGTON in the next paragraph of his letter to Snyder makes his meaning absolutely clear, that while he had not attended any Lodge regularly during the past thirty years he plainly states: "I believe notwithstanding, that none of the Lodges in this Country are contaminated with the principles ascribed to the society of the Illuminati."

This belief is further accentuated by the letter to the Grand Lodge of Maryland a few weeks after the above letter was written to Snyder.

In addition to above records, there are numerous traditions of WASHINGTON's occasional visits to Masonic Lodges and functions:[77] all of which fall within the thirty years mentioned in the Snyder Letter.[78]

Further, WASHINGTON's great interest in Freemasonry is shown by the many addresses received from different Grand and Subordinate Lodges throughout the Union, all of which he acknowledged in fraternal terms, also by the various Masonic constitutions and sermons dedicated to him, which he received with thanks and were preserved in his library.

It will be noted that in the fifth line from the bottom, "_Within the last thirty years_," which in all Anti-Masonic publications is printed in italics, the word "_thirty_" was not in the body of the letter as originally written, but was an afterthought and interlined before the press copy was taken.

In the press copy of this letter, it will be noted that the word written over the words "_last years_," is almost indecipherable; in the photostat it is completely so. This has led some investigators to question whether the interlined word is really "_thirty_."

The surmise that the blur in the press copy of WASHINGTON's letter to Snyder, was "thirty" was first promulgated by Jared Sparks, when he furnished the text of the letter to the Anti-Masonic agitators, during the political excitement which swept over the New England States in the second decade of the nineteenth century.

Snyder, upon receipt of this letter, undoubtedly after consultation with persons who were politically opposed to WASHINGTON or antagonistic to the Masonic Fraternity, wrote a second letter and sent it to Mount Vernon under date of October 17, 1798; no copy of this letter has thus far been found among the WASHINGTON papers in the Library of Congress.

WASHINGTON immediately sent the following sharp reply to Snyder, in which he plainly sets forth his belief that the Masonic Lodges in the United States were not interested in the propagation of the tenets of what was then known as Jacobism or the Illuminati. The words as underscored in the original letter by WASHINGTON were to emphasize his meaning upon this subject.

Photostats of both of the above letter press copies are in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

"MOUNT VERNON 24th Oct. 1798.

"_Rev. Sir_,

"I have you favor of the
tive
"17th instant before me and my only mo:
"to trouble you with the receipt of this let
"ter, is to explain, and correct a mistake
"which I perceive the hurry in which I
"am obliged, often to write letters, have
"led you into.--

"It was not my intention to doubt
"that, the doctrines of the Illuminati, and
"principles of Jacobism had not spread
"in the United States. On the contrary, no
"one is more, fully satisfied of this fact
"that I am.

"The idea I meant to convey, was,
"that I did not believe that the _Lodges_
"of Free Masons in _this_ Country had, as
"_Societies_, endeavoured to propagate the
"diabolical tenets of the first, or the per-
"nicious principles of the latter, (if they
"are susceptible of separation) That
"individuals of them may have done it, or
"that the _founder_, or _instrument_ employ
"ed to found the Democratic Societies
"in the United States, may have had these
"objects, and actually had a separation
"of the _people_ from their _Government_
"in view, is too evident to be questioned.

"My occupations are such, that
"but little leisure is allowed me to read News
"Papers, or Books of any kind. The reading
"of letters and preparing answers, absorb
"much of my time.--

"With respect,--I remain,
"Revd Sir,
"Your Most Obedt Hble Servt

"Go. Washington"

"The Revd.
"Mr Snyder."
Endorsed
to
"The Revd Mr Snyder,
"24th Oct. 1798."

It is a historical fact that WASHINGTON had always retained the highest respect for the people of Maryland, and especially the citizens of Frederick County. No man ever stood higher in the estimation of the people of Maryland than WASHINGTON, and his death awakened genuine sorrow. On February 22d, 1800, memorial services were observed in the Reformed Church at Fredericktown.[79] It was a solemn day and the whole County was in mourning; at which time Ex-Governor Thomas Johnson pronounced the funeral oration. Snyder took no part in these services.

The two letters to Snyder were chiefly relied upon by the Anti-Masons to support their political claims.

"That Washington was never in a Lodge but twice, in his life; that
he paid no attention to Masonry during the war; that in 1781 he
declined being addressed by Masons as a brother Mason, and in 1798
was very particular to insist upon the fact that he had not been in
a Lodge, but once or twice in 30 years, and knew nothing of their
principles and practices."[80]

How false these statements so frequently made, is shown by the many proofs here presented in fac-simile of the originals, which also absolutely controvert the statement in Governor Ritner's Vindication? viz:--

"That all the letters said to be written by Washington to Lodges
are spurious. This is rendered nearly certain: First, by the
non-production of the originals: Second, by the absence of copies
among the records of his letters: Third, by their want of dates:
Fourth, by the fact that his intimate friend and biographer, Chief
Justice Marshall,[81] (himself a Mason in his youth,) says that he
never heard Washington utter a syllable on the subject, a matter
nearly impossible, if Washington had for years been engaged in
writing laudatory letters to the Grand Lodges of South Carolina,
Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts."[82]

The movement to elect General WASHINGTON a Grand Master over all the Brethren in the United States originated at a meeting of American Union Lodge, held at the encampment of the American Army at Morristown, New Jersey, December 15, 1779. This Lodge was a Regimental Lodge of the Connecticut Line, originally warranted by the Provincial Grand Master of Massachusetts.

This movement continued to find favor amongst the craft, especially in Pennsylvania, and culminated in a motion to that effect at a General Grand Communication of the Grand Lodge, December 20, 1779.

This resulted in a Grand Lodge of Emergency being convened January 13, 1780, when the following action was taken:[83]

"This Lodge being called by Order of the Grand Master, upon the
request of Sundry Brethren, and also in pursuance of a Motion made
at the last General Communication, to consider the Propriety as
well as the necessity of appointing a Grand Master over all the
Grand Lodges formed or to be formed in these United States, as the
Correspondence which the Rules of Masonry require cannot now be
carried on with the Grand Lodge of London, under whose Jurisdiction
the Grand Lodges in these States were originally constituted; The
Ballot was put upon the Question: Whether it be for the Benefit of
Masonry that 'a Grand Master of Masons thro'out the United States'
shall be now nominated on the part of this Grand Lodge; and it was
unanimously determined in the affirmative.

"Sundry respectable Brethren being then put in nomination, it was
moved that the Ballot be put for them separately, and His
Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and
Commander-in-chief of the Armies of the United States being first
in nomination, he was ballotted for accordingly as Grand Master,
and Elected by the unanimous vote of the whole Lodge.

"Ordered, That the minutes of this Election and appointment be
transmitted to the different Grand Lodges in the United States, and
their Concurrence therein be requested, in Order that application
be made to his Excellency in due form, praying that he will do the
Brethren and Craft the honor of accepting their appointment. A
Committee was appointed to expedite the Business."

The movement was further advanced at a Convention of representatives of the Army Lodges, held at Morristown, N. J., on February 7, 1780, when, fortified by the pronounced action of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, a committee was chosen of which Brother Mordecai Gist of Maryland was chairman and Brother Otho Williams of Delaware, secretary.[84]

=FAC-SIMILE OF FINAL LETTER FROM BOSTON, ENDING THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE GEN. WASHINGTON GENERAL GRAND MASTER.=

This Committee issued the celebrated address:

"To the RIGHT WORSHIPFUL, The Grand Masters of the several Lodges
in the Respective United States of America.

"UNION----FORCE----LOVE."

This address was signed by representatives of no less than seven states, viz.: Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Bay, New York and Delaware; in addition to those of the American Union Lodge, Artillery, St. John's Regimental Lodge and the Staff of the American Army.

It was further ordered that the foregoing address with an exact copy of these proceedings signed by the President and Secretary, be sent to the respective Provincial Grand Masters in the United States.[85]

It was not until the middle of October that a reply was received from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to the circular letter sent out by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and then only in response to a letter written by our Grand Secretary, Rev. Brother Dr. William Smith.

This matter led to more or less correspondence between the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and was in abeyance, until January, 1781, when the following letter was received from Joseph Webb, Grand Master of Massachusetts.[86]

"BOSTON, Jany 17, 1781.

"_Revd Sir and
"Respected Brother_

"Last Friday Evening the Grand Lodge met, agreeable to adjournment
and after a long debate on the subject, whether it was expedient at
present to elect a Grand Master General for the United States, it
passed in the negative.

"Inclosed I transmit you the vote from the G. Sec'y.

"Yr Affecte Brother
"& Hble Servt
"Jos: WEBB.

"Rev Dr Smith
"Philadelphia."

The belief that WASHINGTON was the Grand Master of the United States was widespread, and, as our late Bro. James M. Lamberton said in his address before mentioned,[87] notwithstanding the fact that the project to elevate General WASHINGTON fell through, "that the action of the Army Lodges and of our Grand Lodge got abroad, is shown by translations of two letters from a Lodge at Cape Francois,[88] on the island of San Domingo, directed to General WASHINGTON as Grand Master of all America, soliciting a charter, which were presented to our Grand Lodge, February 3, 1786. The same thing is shown by a medal struck in 1797, the obverse showing the bust of WASHINGTON, with the legend, "G. Washington President. 1797," the reverse showing many Masonic emblems,[89] with the legend "Amor. Honor. Et Justica G.W.G.G.M." (_i. e.,_ George Washington, General Grand Master).

The writer of the letters to WASHINGTON, Snyder, quoted at the beginning of this chapter, being of foreign birth, and not a member of the Masonic Fraternity, nor even living where a Masonic Lodge existed, evidently labored under the same delusion as the Brethren at Cape Francois.

The Masonic Correspondence of WASHINGTON as represented upon these pages, should settle for all time to come the question, as to the esteem in which WASHINGTON held the Masonic Fraternity, of which he was an honored Member.

It is stated that there are still a large number of Washington papers in the Library of Congress, that are not accessible, as they have thus far not been classified or indexed. Thus it is in the possibilities that there may be still further documentary evidence found of Masonic import, in addition to such as are set forth upon these pages.

=_The Arms of ye most Ancient & Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons._=

Footnotes:

[64] "Memorial Volume, Washington Sesqui-centennial Anniversary," Philadelphia, 1902, p. 165.

[66] The original letter of August 22, 1798, is among the Washington papers in the Library of Congress; a photostat of same is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

[67] Cf. Historical sketch of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Frederick, Maryland, 1904, pp. 22-25.

[68] Cf. "Washington, The Man and Mason," p. 288.

[69] _Vide_ "Sesqui-Centennial Anniversary of the Initiation of Brother George Washington before quoted," p. 149.

[70] Cf. Chapters II and III _supra_.

[71] Cf. "Washington, The Man and Mason," p. 286.

[72] _Ibid_., December 20, 1789. His excellency, General WASHINGTON, unanimously elected Master; Robert McCrea, Senior Warden; William Hunter, Jr., Junior Warden; William Hodgson, Treasurer; Joseph Greenway, Secretary; Dr. Frederick Spambergen, Senior Deacon; George Richards, Junior Deacon. Extract from Minutes, p. 288.

[73] _Vide_ "Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727-1907," Vol. I, Chapter X, pp. 295 _et seq_.

[74] _Ibid._, Vol. I, Chapter XII, pp. 399 _et seq_.

_Vide_ "Washington and his Masonic Compeers," Chapter VIII, pp. 149 _et seq_.

[75] _Ibid._, pp. 86-87. Also records of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 1, Poughkeepsie, New York.

[76] _Ibid._, pp. 150 _et seq_.

[77] _Ibid._, pp. 139 _et seq_.

[78] WASHINGTON, so far as known, attended the following public Masonic functions:

1. Procession in Philadelphia, Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 28, 1778.

2. Festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1779, with the American Union Lodge, at the Robinson House on the Hudson, New York.

3. Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 27, 1779, with American Union Lodge, at the Morris Hotel, Morristown, New Jersey.

4. Festival of St. John the Evangelist, December 27, 1782, with King Solomon's Lodge, at Poughkeepsie, New York.

5. Festival of St. John the Baptist, June 24, 1784, with Lodge No. 39, at Alexandria, Virginia.

6. The Masonic funeral of Brother William Ramsay, February 12, 1785, at Alexandria.

7. Laying of the cornerstone of the capitol at the Federal City (Washington, D. C.), September 18, 1793, upon which occasion WASHINGTON walked in the procession.

[79] Cf. Historical sketch before quoted, p. 24.

[80] Anti-Masonic Republican Convention before quoted, p. 26.

[81] Grand Master of Virginia, 1793-1795.

[82] Vindication of General Washington before quoted, p. 15.

[83] Cf. "Reprint of Minutes of Grand Lodge," Vol. I, p. 19.

[84] "Freemasonry in Pennsylvania, 1727-1781," Vol. I, p. 39.

[85] Address in full, _ibid._, pp. 399-402.

[86] All of the original correspondence is in the Archives of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Mss., Vol. A.

[87] "Washington Sesqui-Centennial Celebration, Nov. 5, 1902, Memorial Volume," pp. 135-6.

[88] Cf. "Old Masonic Lodges of Pennsylvania," Vol. II, Chapter LIII, pp. 242-250.

[89] Specimen in Museum of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

INDEX.

Aberts Tavern, 101

Adam, Rev. John, 30

Adam, Robert, 29, 30

Adcock, William, 77

Alexander, Alexander, 58

Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, Address and Reply, 18;
Letter and Address to Washington, 96;
Washington's Reply, 97

Alexandria Lodge, No. 39, 17;
Correspondence with, 28;
Address to Washington, 29;
Meets at Lamb Tavern, 33;
Invites Washington to dine with them, 34

Allison, John, 29, 33

Anti-Masonic Craze, mention of, 8;
Attack Washington's memory, 10;
Certify to Records, 16

Armstrong, Thomas, 90

Baker, George A., 90

Ball, William, 93

Bartlett, Josiah, 83, 102

Belton, William, 111, 113

Blair, Judge, 42

Blyth, Joseph, 53

Bowen, Thomas B., 58

Bradley, Thomas, 90

Burk, Miss Fanny M., Copies, Portrait for Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, 36

Carson, J., 53

Chapman, Samuel, 48, 49

Clark, Peleg, 15

Clinton, Governor, 42

Cohen, Abraham, 53

Corney, James, 48

Craik, George W., 2, 93

Craik, Dr. James, 93

Cutler, John, 83

Cusack, Richard E., 90

Dandridge, Bartholomew, 2, 75, 81

Dick, Archibald, 32

Dick, Elisha C., 29, 32;
Conducts Masonic Services at Washington's Funeral, 33

Drayton, William, 58

Duplessis, Peter le Barbier, 70;
Autograph, 72, 79, 80

Edwards, Thomas, 102

Elliot, Robert, 15

Few, Joseph, 70;
mention of, 78

Foster, Theo., 42

Franklin, Benjamin, mention of, 27

Fredericktown, Maryland, 117

Freemasonry in Pennsylvania (Barratt and Sachse), Referred to, 16

Free Quaker Meeting House, 69

Gates, Thomas, 58

Georgia Grand Lodge, Address and Reply, 7, 17;
Fraudulent letter to, 94

Gillies, James, 95, 96, 97

Gist, Mordecai, 57, 58, 59;
Sketch of, 64, 134

Gorman, Mr., of New Hampshire, 42

Grant, Reuben, 53

Greene, Mrs. Nathaniel, 66

Griffith, Cadawalder, 90

Guion, Isaac, 48, 49

Halling, Solomon, 48, 49

Hamilton, Gavin, 70, 90

Handy, John, 15

Harris, Thaddeus M., 102

Hayes, Moses Michael, mention of, 15

Hildreth, Ara, 38

Houston, George, 66

Hunt, Galliard, mention of, 6

Illuminati, 117

Irwin, David, 90

Israel, Israel, 90

Jackson, Major William, 2;
Copies Address and Answer, 40

Jefferson, Thomas, 36, 42

Johnson, William, 48, 49

King David's Lodge, No. 1, Newport, R. I., Proposed Masonic Address to
General Washington, 14;
Extracts from Records, 15, 17;
Correspondence with, 37;
Sends Address to Washington, 38;
Fac-simile of Washington's Reply, 41

Knox, Robert, 58

Lamb Tavern, Alexandria meeting place of Lodge, No. 39, 33

Lamberton, J. M., Address Washington as a Freemason, 11;
quoted, 117

Laughton, Joseph, 104

Lear, Tobias, 2, 75, 101

Letter Books in Library of Congress, 6

Littlefield, William, 37

Lodge No. 27, on Pennsylvania Roster, 57, 59

Lowthorp, F., 48

Machey, Mungo, 83

Marshall, John, Chief Justice, 132

Marsteller, Phillip G., 95, 96

Maryland Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to 7, 18;
Address to Washington, 112;
Washington Reply, 113;
Original Draft of Reply, _ib._

Mason, Benjamin, 70

Masonic Aprons, 20

Masonic Portrait of Washington in Alexandria Lodge, 36

Massachusetts Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7;
Letter to, 8;
Objects to Washington as Grand Master General, 16;
Address and Reply, 18;
Address to Washington, 83;
Reply, 85;
Letter to Paul Revere, 104;
Reply to Grand Lodge, 106;
Refuses to nominate Washington as Grand Master General, 136

Mazyck, William C., 60

McElwee, John, 90

Meyers, Israel, 58

Miller, George, 58

Mitchell, John, 58

Nelson, William, 90

Newburgh, Washington in Camp at, 21

Nilson, Andrew, 90

Oliver, Daniel, 104

Oswald, Eleaser, 90

Pasteur, Edward, 48

Pennsylvania Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7;
Address and Reply, 18;
Resolutions, 69;
Address to Washington, 71;
Washington's Reply, 73;
Address to Washington, 1796, 88;
Address, 1797, 103;
Nominated Washington as Grand Master General, 133

Prince George's Lodge, No. 16, Georgetown, S. C.,
Address and Reply, 8, 17;
Correspondence with, 51;
Sketch of, _ib._;
Address to Washington, 52;
Fac-simile, 54, 55;
Washington's Reply, 56

Procter, Thomas, 70;
Sketch of, 78, 90

Providence, R. I., Washington Arrives at, 42

Putnam, Herbert, mention of, 4

Ramsay, Dennis, 95, 96

Ramsay, William, 29, 33

Rehm, Dr. J. F., 50

Revere, Paul, 2;
Letter from Washington, 8;
Letter to, 18, 102, 104

Ritner, Governor, Vindication, 132

Robison, John, "Proofs of Conspiracy," 118

Rush, Dr. Benjamin, 32

Seixas, Moses, 15, 37;
Sketch of, 39

Sherburne, Henry, 37

Shippen, Dr. William, 32

Smith, Jonathan Bayard, 70;
Autograph, 72, 73;
Sketch of, 76

Smith, Mr. of South Carolina, 42

Smith, Rev. William, D.D., Sermon by, 12;
Masonic Sermons by, 13;
Addresses the Brethren, 70;
Drafts Address, 71, 73;
Masonic Record, 76, 90;
Writes to Grand Lodge, Massachusetts, 135

Smith, William Moore, Autograph, 89, 90;
Sketch of, 93;
Snyder (Schneider), G. W., 3;
Letter to Washington, 18, 113;
Fac-simile of Letter, 119, 121;
Sketch of, 123

South Carolina Grand Lodge, Draft of Letter to, 7, 17;
Correspondence with, 57;
Address to Washington, 59;
Washington's Reply, 59;
Original Draft of Reply, 61;
Fac-simile, 62, 63

Sparks, Jared, 9;
Letter from, 10, 129

St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Newbern, N. C., Address and Reply, 8, 17;
Correspondence with, 44;
Resolution, 44;
Address to Washington, 45;
Fac-Simile, 46, 47

Thomas, Isaiah, 104

Town, Thomas, 90

Warren, John, 102

Washington, George, Master of Lodge while President, 2;
Masonic Bodies named after, 3;
Full length Portrait in London, 4;
Copies of all Masonic Letters, 5;
Letter to Paul Revere, 7;
Memory attacked by Anti-Masons, 10;
At Newport, R. I., 1781, 14;
At Providence, R. I., _ib._;
Report on, 15;
As Grand Master, 16;
Replies to Snyder, 18;
Receives Masonic Ornaments from Watson & Cassoul, 20;
Masonic Apron from Lafayette, 20;
Reply to Watson & Cassoul, 21;
In camp at Newburg, 21;
Resigns his commission at Annapolis, 28;
Returns to Mount Vernon, _ib._;
Address from Lodge No. 39, 29;
Reply to Lodge No. 39, 30;
Fac-simile, 31;
Invites Washington to dine with the Lodge, 34;
Acceptance, 35;
Accepts Honorary Membership, _ib._;
Portrait of in Alexandria Lodge, 36;
Address from King David's Lodge, 38;
Arrives at Newport, R. I., 42;
Providence, _ib._;
Reply to King David's Lodge, ib;
Starts on Southern Tour, 44;
Reply to St. John's Lodge, 49;
Arrives at Georgetown, S. C., 51;
Washington's Reply to Prince George's Lodge, 56;
Arrives at Charleston, S. C., 57;
Receives Address from Grand Lodge of South Carolina, 58;
Washington's Reply, 59;
Calls on Mrs. Nathaniel Greene, 65;
Receives Address from Grand Lodge, Georgia, 66;
Leaves Savannah, 68;
Replies to Grand Lodge of Georgia, _ib._;
Residence in Philadelphia, 69;
Received Address from Grand Lodge, Pennsylvania, 71;
Reply 73;
Master's Jewel, 79;
Address from Grand Lodge, Massachusetts, 81;
Washington's Reply, 84;
Farewell Address, 86;
At Philadelphia, 87;
Address from Grand Lodge, Pennsylvania, 88;
Washington Receives Deputation, 90;
Reply, 91;
Letters counterfeited, 94;
Arrives at Mount Vernon, 95;
Letter & Address from Alexandria Lodge, No. 22, 96;
Reply, 97;
Dines with Lodge No. 22, 101;
Letter to Paul Revere, 104;
Draft of Reply to Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 106;
Lieutenant General, 111;
At Baltimore, _ib._;
Draft of Reply to Grand Lodge of Maryland, 113;
Reply, 115;
Sesqui-Centennial Anniversary, 117;
Letter and Book from G. W. Snyder, 118;
Reply to Snyder's Letter of September 15, 1798, 123;
Explanation of, 125;
Member of Alexandria Lodge, 126;
Lays Corner-Stone of Capitol, 127;
Masonic Record of, _ib._;
Traditions of, 128;
Second Letter from Snyder, 129;
Washington's Reply, 130;
Refutation of the Anti-Masonic Slanders, 131;
Grand Master General, 132;
Address by Army Lodges, 134;
Massachusetts refuses to concur, 136;
Universal belief that Washington was Grand Master General, 137;
Medal struck as such, 138

Washington, Lodges in United States, 3

Watson and Cassoul, Draft and Letter to, 7, 17;
Send Masonic Apron to Washington, 19;
Reply to, 22;
Fac-simile of original Draft to, 24, 25;
mention of, 27

Watson, Elkanah, 19;
Letter to Washington, 20, 27

Webb, Joseph, 135

White, Isaac, 53

White, Rev. William, Prayer by, 12

Williams, J. Henry, Authorization, iii;
mention of, 4

Williams, Otho, 134

Williams, William, Paints Washington's Masonic Portrait, 36

Wise's Tavern, Alexandria, 35

Transcriber's Notes:

Passages in italics are indicated by _underscore_.

Image captions are indicated by =caption=.

Illustrations without captions are not identified in this text version.

Superscripted letters are not identified in this text version.

Additional spacing after some of the quotes is intentional to indicate
both the end of a quotation and the beginning of a new paragraph as
presented in the original text.

The following misprints have been corrected:
"contiuue" corrected to "continue" (page 66)
"Illumaniti" corrected to "Illuminati" (page 130)
"Fredricksburg" corrected to "Fredericksburg" (footnote 7)
"Dick, Elisah" corrected to "Dick, Elisha" (index)

All other spelling and punctuation is presented as in the original.

The index has been correctly alphabetized.

Comments

Washington's Masonic CorrespondenceChapter III: Part 3

0%25 min left in chapter